Magnet® Matters

Are registered nurses required to have a BSN degree to work in a Magnet® hospital?

No – a registered nurse is not required to have a BSN to work in a Magnet® hospital.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM), in its Future of Nursing report, calls for hospitals to have a plan in place with the objective of having 80% of their nursing staff BSN-prepared or higher by the year 2020. The Magnet Recognition Program® and Magnet®-designated hospitals endorse and support this objective.

BWH is well on its way to achieving that goal with 75% of current BWH nurses prepared at the BSN degree level or higher. This is a clear indication of the value BWH nurses place on lifelong learning — and the tuition reimbursement, scholarship opportunities and tuition vouchers available to BWH nurses reflect the strong commitment of the Department of Nursing to supporting our nurses in their professional and academic pursuits.